£500 to £1.25m?! The 'unrecognisable' rise of the AIG Women's Open

When the AIG Women’s Open first launched 50 years ago, the field was made up of mostly amateurs and prize money – for the entire tournament – stood at just £500.

Step forward a half-century and the tournament is unrecognizable to the one Jenny Lee Smith won at Fulford Golf Club in 1976, having evolved into one of the biggest events in the golfing calendar.

Whereas the inaugural edition saw professionals Vivien Saunders and Gwen Brandom among those contributing their own money towards the prize fund, the tournament has since gone from strength to strength with enhanced infrastructure and purse increases.

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A star-studded field returns to Royal Lytham & St Annes for the 50th edition this week, live from Thursday on Sky Sports, where the world's best will challenge for major glory and a record $1.5m (£1.25m) winner's share of a $10m (£7.5m) prize purse.

"I don't recognise it from when I used to play it," Dame Laura Davies, who made a record 43 consecutive AIG Women's Open appearances, told Sky Sports. "It's not an add-on anymore, it's a stand-alone major championship of golf and it's a superb event."

From early challenges to major history

Over 50,000 fans are expected at Royal Lytham & St Annes across tournament week, having broken different attendance records each of the previous three editions, while AIG have more than trebled the prize money on offer since becoming title sponsors.

A rocky start to the tournament's history saw it not have a sponsor until 1979 and initially struggle to attract venues to host the event, while the 1983 edition was cancelled due to a lack of funding and left its future under threat.

The LPGA Tour had it as part of their 1984 schedule but wouldn't again for another decade, with Burberry (1985) and Weetabix (1987-1993) among the sponsors during that stint, with the tournament taking time to grow in stature.

"My very first Open was in 1980 at Wentworth on the East Course, then we went up to Newcastle (1981) and there was nobody there," Davies added. "Then we went to Woburn for a long time and the galleries were really good.

"I won my Women's Open at Royal Birkdale (1986) and I think there was a couple of hundred people walking around on the final round, so you just can't compare to how it is now - it has grown massively."

The tournament was first recognised as a major in 2001, replacing the event now known as the Canadian Women's Open, while it only started directly being organised by the R&A - rather than the Ladies' Golf Union - in 2017.

The Old Course at St Andrews, Carnoustie and Royal Troon are all on The Open roster and have been recent venues for the AIG Women's Open, while extended TV coverage and award-winning player facilities have helped the tournament thrive.

"I think the biggest thing is that we go to all these great links courses," Davies explained. "Obviously prize money is a big thing and goes up and up every year, which the players certainly love, but it's also the facilities.

"When you get there and see the infrastructure, the player lounge and the services for the players, it just makes you feel comfortable and makes you feel special. Everyone's looked after as a player and they do a great job.

"Obviously women's sport being more on TV now helps, because people want to come and see the characters they see on TV, and you've seen that gallery-wise and how much they've grown. I can't say anything bad about this event!"

Huge week ahead at Royal Lytham…and another British winner?

Featured Group coverage will provide three hours of extra action over the first two rounds of the final women's major of the year, where Nelly Korda looks to complete the career Grand Slam and Haeran Ryu chases a third consecutive major title.

The last two winners of the AIG Women's Open at Royal Lytham have both been British, with Georgia Hall's 2018 success following Catriona Matthew's 2009 win, while Charley Hull and Lottie Woad are among those looking to extend that streak on home soil.

"I spoke to a couple of the caddies that were at Royal Birkdale [for The Open] and have been there [Royal Lytham] - they've said it's really fiery," Davies said. "Bunkers are going to be a nightmare, because they're a lot harsher than the ones at Royal Birkdale.

"Hull never really got in contention at the Evian Championship and we'll have to wait and see whether her course management works here. She's going to win a major - she's too good not to.

"From what I hear from all the other caddies about Lottie [Woad], she's very solid. She's not flashy, has a really good temperament and takes it all in her stride. If you can have that temperament, then it's a huge thing."

Who will win the AIG Women's Open? Watch throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage of the opening round begins on Thursday with Featured Groups from 9am, ahead of full coverage from 1pm on Sky Sports Golf.